
Luke 2:41-52
There are a myriad of biblical threads which could be traced in today’s Liturgy of the Word: blessing, promise, mutual obedience in family life, faithfulness to the Law, joy and sorrow. Add to that the opening Collect and the other prayers of the Mass and the picture which emerges is something a little more complicated than the name of the feast suggests.
While it’s possible to weave together a very pious set of ideals about family life from liturgy and tradition, I like to see today’s feast as a time to acknowledge the joys and sorrows of living in relationship with others. We are made for connection, however fragile that may feel. In family life or community life you have to take the rough with the smooth. God uses it all.
I take courage today from the last lines of the Gospel; ‘His mother stored up all these things in her heart.’ This is one of the invitations of today’s feast: store up the moments of grace and insight. God will use it.